Affiliation:
1. Research Group in Nursing and Health Care Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC) Hospital Universitario de A Coruña (HUAC) Sergas Universidade da Coruña (UDC) 15006 A Coruña Spain
2. Department of Health Sciences Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry Universidade da Coruña Campus Esteiro 15471 Ferrol Spain
3. Research Group in Rheumatology and Health (GIR‐S) Faculty of Physiotherapy Universidade da Coruña (UDC) Campus Oza 15008 A Coruña Spain
4. Breast Unit Medical Oncology Department Hospital Universitario de A Coruña (HUAC) Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC) Sergas 15006 A Coruña Spain
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundChemotherapy is one of the most widely used therapies for breast cancer, triggering important repercussions on people's quality of life. However, little research has been undertaken about podiatric adverse effects. This study aimed was to determine the prevalence of podiatric pathology developed in people with breast cancer who receive chemotherapy.MethodsObservational, descriptive, and cross‐sectional study was conducted in the Oncology service of the A Coruña University Hospital (northwest Spain). People with breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatment of legal age (≥ 18), who signed the informed consent (n = 117) were included. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, disease and foot health variables, as well as two self‐administered questionnaires (Foot Health Status Questionnaire and Foot Function Index) were studied. The current ethical‐legal aspects were followed.ResultsFoot health problems were highly prevalent, highlighting nail color changes (59.8%), onychocryptosis (39.7%), xerosis (62.4%), plantar fasciitis (12.8%), and neuropathic symptoms (75.2%). Some foot pain was presented in 77.8% of the sample, predominantly at nail level (15.4%) or sole of the foot and nail (14.5%). Most participants described their foot health as fair or poor (56.4%) and felt limited in walking (65.8%). The lowest score for the Foot Health Status Questionnaire was footwear (30.6(33.5)).ConclusionsFoot health adverse effects represent worrisome problems in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, due to their high prevalence and negative implications on quality of life. These problems are critical as they may have implications for stopping or reducing chemotherapy. All these results call for the development of more research to contribute to the care and wellbeing of people with cancer who receive treatments such as chemotherapy. Thus, this line of research is a new path to be developed by the podiatry community.
Subject
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
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